Another riot-accused BJP MLA seeks 'Z' security cover

The ‘Z’ Category security cover given by the Centre to riot accused BJP legislator from Meerut, Sangeet Som, has prompted another saffron party legislator, who too was an accused in the Muzaffarnagar communal violence, to seek enhanced security cover citing threat to his life. 

BJP legislator from Muzaffarnagar district Suresh Rana, who was also accused of inciting communal passion through his speech at a panchayat at Muzaffarnagar during last year’s communal violence, has asked the Uttar Pradesh government to provide him adequate security as there was a “threat” to his life.

According to the reports, Rana, who already enjoys Y Category security cover, was not happy and felt that his political rivals posed a serious threat to his life. “The way the state government has publicised my name as an accused, many consider me a riot monger,” he said.

Rana claimed that intelligence agencies had also apprehended threat to his life. Sources close to Rana said that the MLA was preparing ground for being given enhanced security cover by the Centre on the lines of Som.

Like Som, Rana too had been charged with delivering provocative speech at a panchayat in Muzaffarnagar last year. He was arrested and National Security Act (NSA) has been invoked against him. The NSA was later withdrawn and the case against him is still pending in the court.

UP government sources, however, said here that there was no report from any intelligence agency apprehending grave threat to Rana’s life. In Som’s case also, the state government had not sent any report to the Centre recommending higher security cover.

Opposition parties had slammed the decision to provide Z Category security to Som. As many as 62 people had died in the communal violence and thousands were forced to flee their homes and take shelter at relief camps